Rail-joint adjuster



March 27, 1928. N 1,663,769 J. H. MORGAN RAIL JOINT ADJUSTER Filed March 10. 1927 JOHN MORGAN, or

Patented Mar. 27, 1928 EAST ST.V LOUIS, lLLNOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO SAMUEL C. JUMP, O F EAST ST. `LGUS,`1LLI1\TOIS.

RAIL-JOINT vannisanne.,

'Appia-ation mea March 10,' 1527.] sensi No. mazos. i

rails, or for pulling two l'ongitudinallyl aligned rails together so asrto redue'e thel width of the space or joint between vthe rails.

One object of my invention is to provide a rail joint adjuster` which is of such dc-v sign that a train can .pass over the rails that Vare being adjusted without the necessity ofl disconnecting the adjuster 'from lthe rails,w

Another object is to provide aV rail joint adjuster that is light enough in weight to be carried by a single workman and which is of such design that one workman can operate it easily to separate two rails or'p'ull the rails together. l

Another obj u adjuster which 'is of such design thatk when it is arranged in operative relationship with the rails it will'not' interfere with the insertion or removal of an insulating end postV between the ends of the rails.

.And still another Objectis to providek ay rail joint adjuster, which, in addition to havsubj ing the desirable characteristics above point! ed out, is inexpensive to 'manufacture, and

rugged enough to successfully withstand the excessive strainsto which such devices are longitudinally-aligned rails.

, To this end I have devised a' rail jointl adjuster which is adapted to be arrang-ed at one side'of two longitudinally-aligned rails,V

so that it extends across the joint between the ends of the rails, means for connecting said member to one of thevrails, and a tapered device that is adapted to be `forced between an abutment means or' surface on said member andthe edge 'of'a vbolt hole in the'other rail, so as to produce relative longitudinal movement between said member and said other rail. y y c j Figure l of the drawings is a perspective view, illustrating my improvedfrail joint view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;'and

ect is to provide a rail joint ected inthe operation ofadjustingtwo' j rige@ i is a View imamio Figure 2,11; lust-rating the method of using the adjuster to produce a relatively lgreat movement between the two rails with which the adjuster 'v is used.l j j p e Referring to the drawings which illustrate `the preferred form ofimy invention',uirA and B designate two longitudinally-aligned rails whose ends are separated froineach other by au open spacefor joint a", as shown in Fig- 4ure l." In: an Vinsulated rail jointan end post of insulating material, that conforms to the crossjsectional shape of the rails, is arranged in thespacev m between the ends of the rails. My improvedadjuster is adapted to be used for forcingthe rails A' and B apart,vso` as tofacilitate the removal or insertion ofv such Aan insulating end post between' the rails,

and it is also adapted to be used -for pullingk two` longitudinallyaligned rails together, so as to close up or reduce the width of the space )between the ends of the rails.

"The adjusterlcomprises a member C that is arranged longitudinally of theV rails at Oneside of same after the splice bars, i'ish plates oiyrailjoint members have been re? lmoved from the rails, said member C being preferably constructed soy that it vwillht between the heads and base flanges of the rails and 'bear against one side of the .webs of the rails. The member C is connectedto one of the rails, preferably by bolts l,4 that pass transversely through said member yand through'the web of the rail A, so as to hold said member'and rail in rigid relationship." Relative longitudinal' movement between the rails A andB either to 'increase or` decrease the' width of the joint between said rails is produced by driving la tapered exerts on the edge of said Vbolt hole will that pressure which said tapered device D v produce relative longitudinal movement' be-v tween the rail B andthe member C. In the preferred form of my invention, as herein illustrated, the portion of the member C that laps over the rail B is provided with an,adjustable'means that forms a spacevor passagewayl for` the tapered device lD and which `can be set invarious positions so as to.

vary the degree of longitudinal movement imparted tothe rail'kB and also enable said rail to be'moved progressively or Witha step by vstep movement relativelyV to the rail'A.

The adjustable means just referred toon -ithe Vmember-` .Ol `foi-"ms an abutment surface spiritof my invention.

against which the tapereddevioedDfbears when said device is exerting pressure on the edge of the bolt hole in therwebof-the fpered device D is inserted in said space and Ithen driven into the bolt hole 2 inthe Web 5 of ythe ra'il 1B, said tapered devieelD will exert pressure on the edge of said bolt hole in al direction tending tol move the rail B l longitudinally-so as to'j bring thebolt hole `2 into alignment with the transverse space in thefmemberO in which the device D is positioned. Theshims 3 can' eitherl be ad- ,justed so 'that two of said-shines form a f of the pocket in -which said shims are posi-k limproved rail joint adjuster is to` provide D is driven home, .and whenever the rail B i space orabutment Vsurface for they tapered ldevice D, or one of said shims can be arranged in opposed relation to one end-wall tioned, so as to forma space 'or' abutment surface for the device D.

\ One convenient Wayof constructing my 4`the member O with athiekened portion that laps vover the rail- B and form a vnotchor recess in said thickened portion that extends transversely across ythe entire width of same, the upper sideof said notch being closed by a cover, plate 4 that is retained -ins position by nutsl 5 which are mountedA on 'studsb 'that Vproject upwardly from the' 'thickened po'rtioiiof the member C 'through' holes in said plates are arrangedin spaced relation,

the cover plate fi. rThe shims 3 consist of -flat metalplates arranged edgewise `transvei's'elyl --of the thickened portion of themember' O, and the combined thiekness'of said plates.V

is less than 'the length of-the pocketin Ywhich they are, positioned, so that'whenl Vtwo of l'or one of :said plates is arranged in spaced relation with one end wall of the pocket, a `space Will be formed that is-just wide enough to receive the tapered deyice D. -`As'the ends nally of the,` pocketfin the memberO, and

. f in order to prevent said 'shims from lshift- .ing laterally out of said pocket, vtheshims are provided von ltheir top and bottom edgesl i with extensions 3, iis-shown in Figure 3,'that project into slots or grooves formed in the eovei plate 4 and in the bottom of the pocket in the' thickened portion of the member C, as shown in Figure 3.

To install theadjusterg the rail joint niembers, splice bars or fish plates are first removed from the rails A and B, and the rail spikes'are loosened suiiiciently to permit the rails to move longitudinally of the ties on whi'elith'eyrest. iThe member C is thenV arranged on the outside of the rails `and seouied tothe lWeb of the rail'A by bolts 1,' and afew rail spikes 7 are then driven into the ties on the gauge 'side ofthe rails in proximity to the ends of 'therails, so as to resist lateral movement of the rails'during the adjustiiig operation. Obviously, any other suitable means can be 'used in place of the spikes 7y to resist' lateral movement of the rails. The shims 3 are then adjusted longitudinally of the pocket in the thickened por-' tion of the member C, .so that two` of said shiins or one shim-and one end wall of said pocket will be separated by aspace that is slightly out of transverse alignment with 'one-of the bolt holes 2 in the web ot the` rail is to be moved a considerabledistance, either towards or away from 2the ra`il'A,it is'ne'ees-y sary to move the rail progressively or with a step by step movement, by changing the `position of the shims after each time- 'the tapered 'device D :has been forced into the i bolt hole -in'the web of the rail B. Thedevice D can be of any preferred- 'cross-sed tional shape; it can be provided with a taper 'of any preferred angle, and can either consist of a. straight tapered pin or a pin provided with an inclined surface. Preferably, lthe device D is provided at 'its outer end with a head-pieces; that is adapted to be engaged vby a maul or heavy hammer in the operation of forcing saidldevice through the slightly offset passageways or openings in' "the member O and in the web of the rail B 'during the operation of adjusting the -of the 'shims 3 are exposed, as-'shown in Figi :ure l, they canbeadjusted easily longitudirails. As -previously stated,4 I wish `it to be understood that my broad idea contemplates equipping theportion of the member C that extends alongside ofthe rail 'B with any suitable kind of a. means that will forman abutment surface-or passageway for the ta pereddeviceD and whichis capable of be.

ing adjusted relatively tothe bolt hole in the of the device D andtovenable onerail to be .moved longitudinally relatively to the other a considerabledistan'ceprogressively or by l"a step by step movementfV l\loreover,.-w lien the ladjuster is equipped with shimsor filler plates that are adapted to be arranged in various positions on the member t), it is im` material how said shims are supported by or mounted in the member C.

A rail joint adjuster of the kind above described 4is light enough in Vweight to becarried vby one man; it can be operated by one man quickly andeasily to increase or de` .crease the width of the joint betweenthe ends of two rails g* it is arranged entirely be-` .low the tread surface of the rails,.preferablyI on the outside of the track, and consequently, doesV not have to be removed from the rails l when a train passes over the joint; itdoes not interfere withv the insertion or removal of an insulating end post between therails, because the gauge side of the rails is clear and not obstructed by any portion lof the adjuster, and itis of exceptionally rugged design, is inexpensive to' construct-'and is capable of being operated byyone man for closing up a jointl or space of several inches in length, between the ends of two longitudinally' aligned rails.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and vdesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A rail joint adjuster', comprising ak member adapted to be connected to one rail in such a position that a portion` of said member extends alongside of the other rail, and a tapered device that adapted to be forced vinto engagementwith surfaces on said other rail anden said member located below the tread surface of the head of the rail and disposed so as to producerelative longitudinal movement between said other rail and member.

2. A rail joint adjuster, comprising a member that is adapted to beconnected to one rail so that al portion of said member projects alongside the web of the other rail, an opening or passageway in said member located below the tread surface of the head of the rail and arranged in offset relation with a bolt hole in the-web of the other rail, and a tapered device that is adapted to be forced through said passageway and'bolt hole so as to produce relative longitudinal movement between said rail and member. V

3. A rail joint adjuster, comprising a member adapted to be connected to one rail so that a portion of said member laps over the web of the other rail, an adjustable abutment means on said member located below the tread surface of the head of the -rail,'that is adapted to be arranged in lslightly oset relation with a bolt hole in the web-of said `other rail, and a tapered device that is adapted toA be arrangedin engagement with said abutment means and driven into saidbolt hole so as to exert pressure onthe edge of said Abolt holein adirection to produce relative longitudinal movement between said rail and member. Y f 4. A rail joint adjuster, comprising a member. adapted to be connected to thev web of one rail inl such a position that a porthe other rail, a longitudinally adjustable means'on said portion located below the tread surface of the head offthe' rail, that forms a space which is arranged in offset 'relation with' a bolt holev in the web of the railoverlapped by said portion, and atapere d 'de`vice that is adapted to be drijven` through said space' into said bolt hole', for

the purpose described. y

5. A rail joint adjuster, co1npr1smg'1a member adapted to be arranged"'alongside of two longitudinally aligned rails below.

the tread surfaces of same, meansfor connecting said member to one rail,"and fadevice that is adapted to be moved transversely of said member and the other rail so as to engage surfaces on said member and otherv rail located below the tread surface of the head of the rail, and thus exert pressure on same in direction to produce relative longitudinal movement between saidmember and said other rail.

6. A rail joint adjuster, comprising a member adapted to be arranged at one-side `tion of said member-'laps over the web'of of two longitudinally aligned rails across i the joint between ythe ends of same, said member being located entirely below the tread surfaces of the rails, means for conf necting said member to the web of one rail,

ica

tapered device that is adapted to be moved transversely of said member into a bolt hole in the web of the other rail, and any adjust- `able means on said member located below the tread surface ofthe rail and disposed in such relation to said bolt hole that'tho pressure exerted by said tapered deviceon said adjustable means and on the edge of said bolt hole produces relative longitudinal movement between said member and the rail through which said tapered device passes.

7. A rail joint adjuster, comprising a member adapted to be connected to the web of one rail so that a portion of said member projects along theweb ofthe other rail,

a pocket in said portiomadjustable elements in said pocket adapted to be arranged to form a transverse passageway in said porfl tion, and a tapered device that is adapted to be forced through said passageway into a bolt hole inthe web of the rail overlapped 'br the said portion of said member.

8. A rail joint adjuster,` comprising a member detachably connected to the web of one railfand provided with a vportion that ext-ends alongside the'web ot the other rail,

a pocket in said portion located below lthe I tread surface ot' the head ot' the rail, a pluralityof transversely-disposed shinis in said pocketthat are capable ot' being arranged iii f different positions in .theI pocket so as to forni a passageway that is slightlyA offset -With ielation'to a bolt hole in the web of the krail aloiigside oii'which saidportion extends, and a taperedfdevice adapted to be driven through-said passageway and bolt hole, for the Vpurpose described.

9. A rail joint adjuster, comprising a member adapted to be secured to the web of Aone rail so that a portion of said member arranged in different positions so as to form arpasageway that is in offset relationship with a bolt hole in the web ofthe rail overlapped by said portion, and a tapered device adapte-d to` bedriven into .said passageway and bolt hole, for the purpose described.

10. vA rail jointadjuster, comprising a member constructed so as to lit between the head andvbase flange of one rail in engagementwith the web of the rail,l means for i connecting said irneinber to said rail, a thickened poi-tionen said member thatlaps over the-web of vthe other. rail and which is located'entirely below the tread, surface of the head of 'the rail, a. fpocket iiisaid thick- 'f u l vcned portioindevices-in said pocket, adjust- Vable fl'rom the, exteriorot' said member, andl head and .base flange ot' one rail, bolts for securing said member to the web of the rail, a thickened portion on said member located entirely below the tread suifacelof theV head ot the rail and extending alongside the web of the other rail, a pocket vin said thickened portion, a removable cover plate vfor vsaid pocket, transversely-disposed shiins' or lillei plates in said pocket, adapted to be arranged in different positions soars Vto :torni a passageway that is offset-slightly with relation to a bolt hole inthe web of the rail alongside of which the thickened portionlot vsaid member projects, and .a tapered device adapted to be driven intogsaid passageway and bolt hole. f

Y :Jorrit ii;- MORGAN. 

